Taste What Amherst’s Cooking
Finding a place to eat can be a tough choice when you’re exploring a new place. Wouldn’t it be great if you could sample a little something from every restaurant in one day, in one place? The annual Taste of Amherst on the Amherst Common provides just that opportunity, making it easy to learn the culinary delights of this Hampshire County town.
The Taste of Amherst runs Thursday, June 13 through Sunday June 16 – and you’ll want to spend more than just a day at this event. It requires that you come empty (stomach that is!) and often. Be prepared to leave your diet behind for the weekend.
The Taste’s food vendor lineup is a terrific cross section of world cuisine from restaurants throughout the Amherst area. Over 20 restaurants participate at this year’s Taste.
- Amherst Chinese Food
- Amherst To Go (a partnership of Moti, The White Hut, and Lime Red Tea House)
- Antonio’s
- Atkins Farms Country Market
- Baku’s
- Bart’s
- Champney’s at the Deerfield Inn
- FroyoWorld
- Ginger Garden
- J. Gumbo
- La Veracruzana
- Lhasa Café
- The Loose Goose Café
- Maple Valley Creamery
- Nancy Jane’s All Occasion Catering
- Panda East
- Paradise of India
- The Pub
- Simple Gifts Farm of North Amherst
- 30Boltwood
- Thai Corner
Check out all Amherst restaurants.
For the grown-ups, the beer and wine tent is open on Friday and Saturday night with craft brews by Rafters and wine by Atkins.
But wait—the Taste is not just food. Area station WRSI 93.9 The River has curated a lineup of regional and national acts for the Taste’s soundstage, including some of our “Local Heroes” Sun Parade, Bella’s Bartok, and Primate Fiasco. The full schedule with music samples can be found at www.wrsi.com.
There’s plenty of fun and games, too, including an appearances by the Forest Park Zoo on Father’s Day June 16. Throughout the Taste there will be bounce houses, rock climbing walls, pony rides by Muddy Brook Farm, and story times by Reader-to-Reader of Amherst.
You’ll probably eat something at the Taste and wish you knew how to prepare it. That’s what the cooking demo tent is for. Chef Bill Collins will be joined by Jerry Jolly of The Pub and Chef Dino Giordano of 30Boltwood to show audience members how to cook some of their signature items.
If you’re already visiting Hampshire County, then you’re in luck! And if you needed another reason, the Taste of Amherst is surely it!
Admission is free all days. Hours for the Taste of Amherst are Thursday, June 13, 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday, June 14, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, June 15, 12 to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 16, 12 to 4 p.m. For more information check out the Taste of Amherst on Facebook.
The Taste of Amherst is organized by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Atkins Farms Country Market. Major sponsorship comes, in part, by The Amherst Business Improvement District, Florence Savings Bank, and Amherst College. The event is also made possible by the support of UMass University Relations, Hampshire College, Steve Lewis Subaru, Nescor, and Amherst Dog Wash. In-kind sponsorship and critical support come from 93.9 The River, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Valley Advocate, MercyHouse, Maple Valley Creamery, Marney Electric, Muddy Brook Farm, and Pepsi.